Pattern sheet controlled mechanism



June 5, 1934. I A. A. JIMENEZ ET AL Re. 19,138

PATTERN SHEET CONTROLLED MECHANISM FOR ILLUMINABLE SIGNS Original FiledJune 28, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORSI J 0- Q BY ATTORNEYS ReissuedJune 5, 1934 PATTERN SHEET CONTROLLED MECHANISM FOR, ILLUMINABLE SIGNSAlfredo A. Jimenez and Julio C. Jimenez, Habana, Cuba Original No.1,844,770,

dated February 9, 1932,

Serial No. 464,639, June 28, 1930. Application for reissue February 6,1934, Serial No.

In Cuba September 3,

9 Claims.

This invention is a novel pattern-sheet controlled switch mechanismdesigned primarily for use in connection with luminous electric signs ofthe class known as traveling message signs; but it is to be understoodthat a circuit controller in accordance with this invention may beemployed for any purposes for which it is found applicable. Theinvention has for its object to provide in a manner as hereinafter setforth for controlling an illuminable display, from a signboard or otherobject.

A further object of the invention is to provide a controlling device forthe purpose referred to capable of performing its function when thesignboard or other object upon which the display is to be had is locatedat a point remote from the switching mechanism.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a circuit controller forthe purpose referred to which is comparatively simple in itsconstruction and arrangement, strong, durable, compact, thoroughlyefficient in its use, readily assembled and comparatively inexpensive tomanufacture.

In the drawings:--

Figure l is a front elevation of the switch.

Fig. 2 is a partial view in rear elevation.

Fig. 3 is a detailed section illustrating a set of spring controlledcircuit closing elements and further showing the circuit controllingelement of the pattern sheet type in the form of a perforated ribbon orband and which is common to the several lighting circuits.

Fig. 4 in side elevation shows one of the rollers of a circular series,upon which the circuit controlling element travels.

Fig. is a detail of the inside rollers serving to guide the circuitcontrolling sheet to the control point.

Fig. 6 is a section taken along line A-B Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a face view of the circuit controlling element or sheet in theform of a ribbon or film in which, as an example, a pattern in the formof letters A. J. is provided by perforations.

A non-rotary circular support A is shown in the form of a fixed spool ordrum formed by front and rear rings 1 and 2 joined and maintained infixed spaced relation by bolts 3 and spacers 4 arranged between andsecured to lugs 5 extending inwardly from the inner edge of rings 1 and2. Between said rings and near the inner edges thereof are rollers 6 inan endless or circular series, for guiding the convolutions of thecontrol sheet or band 25. These guide rollers 6 are carried by shafts 6'which project from the ends of the rollers. For the purpose of makingall said rollers 6 drivers, to assist advancing the band, each shaft 6'is provided with a pulley 'i rigidly mounted near one of the ends of theroller. The preferred position of the spool A is vertical and it issustained by means of supports 8 and 9, secured to base 10.

The circuit controlling or switching mechanism B is mounted interiorlyof spool A, to which it is secured by means of a spider C, suitably heldby a bracket 11 fixed to a horizontal member 12, having its endsattached to a pair of lugs 5 of ring 1. The mechanism B includes a motor28 supported upon rear ring 2.

Spider C has secured to it a holder or curved plate 14 of dielectricmaterial, for supporting a system of contacts] In the plate are formedopenings 15 wherein are lodged metallic tubes 16 provided with insideand outside threads, at their upper ends, the former serving to screw onmetallic caps 17 and the latter to secure bolts 18 regulating thepressure of helical springs 19 within said metallic tubes 16. The saidsprings have one of their ends resting on the lower part of screws 18and the other resting on metallic balls 20. The said balls are adaptedto contact the outer face of rim 21 of a metallic wheel 22, the ballsand the rim constituting complementary contacts.

The wheel 22 is rotatably mounted on the spider C and is electricallyinsulated therefrom by means of fiber or other suitable insulation.

The rim 21 of the wheel 22 (Fig, 3) is provided with teeth 23 at one ofits sides, said teeth being separated from the rest of the rim by meansof an annular groove 24 serving to prevent the circuit controllingelement of the pattern-sheet type, in the form of. a ribbon or film 25,to-be injured by the teeth or by gear 26, which imparts movement towheel 22 by engaging the teeth 23 of the latter. The gear 26 isrotatably mounted in the spider C and is driven by a Worm 2'7 operatedby reduction gearing driven from a motor 28. The reduction gearingconsists of the sprockets 29 and 29. The wheel 22 is operated at thedesired slow speed of message travel, the reduction gearing providingtherefor.

The rollers 6 which guide the sheet wound in several convolutionsthereon may be rotated to facilitate the travel of the sheet. In orderto synchronize the movement of the difierent parts that cooperate in themovement of the sheet or ribbon 25, a pulley or sprocket 30 is mountedupon gear 26 for the purpose of transmitting motion by means of a chainor belt 31 to a pulley 32'servlng to move, simultaneously, the rollers 6by means of a belt 33 traveling circumferentially on the series ofpulleys 7.

To maintain the ribbon or sheet in a correct path during its travel weprovide near the lower part of rim 21 a pair of guide rollers 34 and 35,rotatably mounted on a support 36 capable of oscillating on spider Cupon a shaft 3'1, which is provided with a slot 38, serving to allowpassage therethrough of the ribbon or film 25 (Figs. 5 and 6), as willbe explained hereinafter. Also near the upper part of rim 21, swingablesupports 40 are provided capable of oscillating on spider C and carryinga guide roller 39. The said supports 36 and 40 are held in workingposition by means of opposed, oppositely acting springs 41 and 42 whichare suitably secured thereto and also to a fixed central holder. Inaddition to the aforesaid rollers a resilient plate 44 is arranged touphold the ribbon or sheet 25 upon issuing from holder 14. To preventpossible twisting of the ribbon or sheet 25 after passing over plate 44,a guide 46 is provided on the interior periphery of ring 1 and which isin the shape of a fork.

As the ribbon or sheet 25 after leaving wheel 22 tends to sag at thelower end of spool A, as seen in Fig. 1, such sag interfering with theproper working of the device, we provide a brake 47, in the form of astrip, secured at one of its ends to shaft 48 and having its other endsustained by a stud 49 and which allows regulation of its pressureaccording to the length of the ribbon wound on the spool.

As the holder 14 is of dielectric material and each of the spiralsprings 19, tubes 16 and covers l7 constitute a contact, and since wheel22 is metallic and is electrically connected to battery 50 by means of abrush, it constitutes the other contact, that is to say, when a ball 20passes through an opening 52 in the ribbon 25 to contact with rim 21 thecorresponding circuit is closed and the lamp 53 therein is illuminated.

Operation (A) Take one end of control sheet or ribbon 25 with themessage or advertisement perforated thereon and pass same from theoutside to the inside between two rollers 6 of those occupying thesecond quadrant, as in Fig. 1 shown.

(B) Pull gently and pass ribbon through guide slot 38 in shaft 37.

(C) Pass the ribbon between rollers 34 and 35 (taking care that 35mounts on the ribbon).

(D) Introduce its end in the space between curved plate or holder 14 andrim 21, and rotate wheel 22, slowly advance ribbon until its end issuesthrough the outer end of holder 14.

(E) Pass the ribbon over the plate 44 and then between fork shaped guide46 secured to ring 1 and let it remain so.

(F) Roll the balance of ribbon on spool A counterclockwise in Fig. 1until end is reached, at which time both ends thereof are to bepermanently attached to each other, taking care to allow suilicient sag;and apply the brake 4'? to the outer convolution above the sagginglength thereof or with an aperture in the brake for the passage of theribbon.

(G) Start the motor 28 which, through worm 2'! and gears 29, 29 and 26imparts clockwise rotation to wheel 22 which will impart motion toribbon 25, forcing same to advance. Once the ribbon is in motion, everytime a perforation 52 coincides with a ball 20, the correspondingcircuit will be closed, lighting the corresponding lamp 53 of the boardor signboard, the plurality of lighted lamps producing the words ormessage constituting the matter to be displayed, and at the same timegiving progressive motion or travel of the display. The foregoingoperation is repeated as long as the device is in motion as theperforated ribbon is endless.

The characteristic principles of the present improvement may besummarized as follows. It operates by a traveling pattem-sheet 25 havingprearranged series of circuit control devices in the form ofperforations 52 for selectively determining the display or illuminationof lamps 53 of an illuminable sign. This pattern-sheet cooperates with asystem of individual circuit closers-in the form of spring contacts 20,such contacts being operated by the control devices or perforations ofthe pattern-sheet and serving to open and close the corresponding lampcircuits. This general arrangement, with an endless or repeatingpattern-sheet, presents the requirement of compact disposal andeffective handling of the extended portion of the pattern sheet which isnot in operation; and to meet this requirement the present invention ischaracterized by the spool or drum 1, 2 having an endless or circularseries of sheet supporting studs or rollers 6 for the accommodation ofthe length of the pattern sheet wound thereon, the pattern sheet beingdisposed in a path which has a plurality of convolutions around thedrum, and passing from the innermost convolution interiorly from thedrum, between two of the rollers 6, and thence beneath the system ofcircuit closers or contacts to operate them, and thence back to theoutermost convolution on the drum. The arrangement so outlined iscompleted by drive means for causing the advancing travel of the patternsheet in the described endless path, for which purpose the patternsheet, in passing beneath the system of contacts, is carried around onthe traveling support or wheel 22, which wheel is turned by the motor 28and gearing 29, 29', 2'1. 26 and 23 to advance the pattern sheet throughthe control point, and draw it from the drum, this primary drive meansbeing shown as optionally supplemented by connections for rotating therollers 6 of the drum, which otherwise might be idle rollers. The brake47 is useful as applying a drag to retard the outer convolution, andfacilitate the sheet readjusting itself or collapsing on the drum as theinner convolution is fed away. The slack is shown between the controlpoint and the outer convolution but would be between the control pointand the inner convolution if the travel were reversed.

What we claim is:

1. In a pattern-sheet-controlled mechanism for operating the circuits ofan illuminable sign, a rotatable wheel of conducting material interposedin and coirmion to such circuits, a holder of dielectric materialopposing a portion of said wheel, a system of spring contacts mounted onand projecting inwardly from said holder, each of said contactsinterposed in one of said circuits and con- 149 stituting a circuitcloser therefor, a stationary drum adjacent to said wheel, a controllingpattern sheet provided with prearranged perforations, said sheetsupported by the drum and traveling between said wheel and said contactsfor normally maintaining the latter clear of said wheel, a series ofrollers arranged in said drum for supporting said sheet while travelingthereon, and means for causing travel of the sheet between a d wheel andcontacts, whereby said perforations will selectively permit saidcontacts to engage said wheel to close the lighting circuits.

2. In a pattern-sheet-controlled switch mechanism for illuminable signs,a rotatable wheel having a rim of conducting material interposed in andcommon to such circuits, a holder of insulating material opposing aportion of and spaced from the rim of said Wheel and provided with a setof openings, a set of spring contacts mounted in said openings andprojecting inwardly from said holder, each of said contacts interposedin one of said circuits and constituting a circuit closer therefor, anon-rotary drum surrounding said wheel, a controlling element of thepattern sheet type common to said circuits and in the form of ashiftable ribbon provided with spaced perforations, said sheet supportedby the drum and traveling between said wheel rim and said contacts fornormally maintaining the latter clear of said rim, driven rollersarranged in said spool for shifting said ribbon therefrom, whereby saidperforations will selectively permit said contacts to engage said rim toclose the lighting circuits, means for rotating said wheel to drive thepattern sheet, and means operated from the means for rotating said wheelfor driving said rollers to shift said ribbon.

3. A mechanism as in claim 1 and wherein is a spring pressed guardguiding the sheet to the periphery of said wheel.

4. In a pattern-sheet-controlled mechanism for operating a system ofelectric circuits and thereby the lamps of an illuminable sign, thecombination with a traveling endless patternsheet having prearrangedseries of circuit control devices or perforations for selectivelydetermining the display, a system of individual circuit closers operatedby said control devices of the pattern-sheet and operating the lampcircuits, a storage drum having an endless series of sheet supportingstuds or rollers for the accommodation of the pattern sheet woundthereon, said pattern sheet being disposed in a path having a pluralityof convolutions around said drum, and passing from the innermostconvolution interiorly from the drum, and thence beneath the system ofcircuit closers to operate them, and thence back to the outermostconvolution on the drum, and drive means for causing the advancingtravel of the pattern sheet in such path.

5. In a mechanism for operating a system of electric circuits andthereby the lamps of an illuminable sign of the type employing atraveling endless pattern-sheet having prearranged series of circuitcontrol devices for selectively determining the display and a system ofindividual circuit closers operated by said control devices of thepattern-sheet and operating the lamp circuits, the combination of astorage drum having an endless series of sheet supporting studs orrollers for the accommodation of the pattern sheet wound thereon, anddrive means for causing the advancing travel of the pattern sheet,whereby said pattern sheet may be disposed and driven in an endless pathhaving a plurality of convolutions around said drum, and passing fromthe innermost convolution interiorly from the drum, and thence beneaththe system of circuit closers to operate them, and thence back to theoutermost convolution on the drum.

6. In a mechanism for operating a system of electric circuits andthereby the lamps of an illuminable sign, controlled by a travelingendless pattern-sheet having prearranged series of circuit controldevices or perforations for selectively determining the display, thecombination of a system of individual circuit closers operated by saidcontrol devices of the pattern-sheet and operating the lamp circuits, anon-rotary storage drum having an endless series of sheet supportingrollers mounted in fixed positions around the drum for the accommodationof the pattern sheet wound thereon, said pattern sheet being disposed ina path having a plurality of convolutions around said drum, and passingfrom the innermost convolution interiorly from the drum, and thencebeneath the system of circuit closers to operate them, and thence backto the outermost convolution on the drum, and drive means for causingthe advancing travel of the pattern sheet in such path.

7. A mechanism as in claim 6 and wherein is a brake means applying aretarding drag upon the outer convolution of pattern sheet on said drum.

8. In a pattern-sheet-controlled mechanism for operating a system ofelectric circuits and thereby the lamps of an illuminable sign,controlled by a traveling endless pattern-sheet having prearrangedseries of circuit control devices or perforations for selectivelydetermining the display, the combination of a system of individualcircuit closers operated by said control devices of the pattern-sheetand operating the 105 lamp circuits, a rotary support or wheel beneaththe pattern sheet opposite to said system of circuit closers, a storagedrum having an endless series of sheet supporting studs or rollers forthe accommodation of the pattern sheet wound 110 thereon, said patternsheet being disposed in a path having a plurality of convolutions aroundsaid drum, and passing from the innermost convolution interiorly fromthe drum, and thence beneath the system of circuit closers to operate115 them, and thence back to the outermost convolution on the drum, anddrive means for turning the rotary support and thereby causing theadvancing travel of the pattern sheet in such path.

9. In a pattern-sheet-controlled mechanism 120 for operating a system ofelectric circuits and thereby the lamps of an illuminable sign, thecombination with a traveling endless patternsheet having prearrangedseries of circuit control devices or perforations for selectivelydetermining the display, a rotary wheel upon 'which the pattern sheettravels at the place of control, a system of individual circuit closersoperated by said control devices of the patter -sheet and operating thelamp circuits, said circuit closers 130 located opposite to the rotarywheel, a hollow storage drum surrounding said wheel and circuit closersand having an endless series of sheet supporting studs or rollers forthe accommodation of the pattern sheet wound thereon, said 35 patternsheet being disposed in a path having a plurality of convolutions aroundsaid drum, and passing from the innermost convolution interiorly fromthe drum, and thence to said rotary wheel and beneath the system ofcircuit closers to operate them, and thence laterally of the drum andback to the outermost convolution on the drum, and drive means forturning the wheel and causing the advancing travel of the pattern sheetin such path.

ALFREDO A. JIMENEZ. 45

JULIO C. JIMENEZ.

